Anyone looking for a good family five-seater electric car for under £26,000 that’s fun and easy to drive with feisty performance, decent range and a comfortable minimalist interior should check out the new MG4 EV.
Or, as I’ve dubbed it — after taking one of these smart, streamlined hatchbacks for a drive on the urban, country and fast-flowing roads around Bicester in Oxfordshire — ‘the People’s Tesla’.
There are five driving modes to suit conditions, but I had most fun in ‘sport’. The MG is like the Aldi or Lidl of the automobile world, which will be welcomed by cash-strapped families who want quality during a cost-of-living crisis.
Feisty: Versatile and fun, the MG4 EV comes with a range of extras
It is taking the slot vacated by evermore-expensive Skoda.
Order books for the MG4 are open for first deliveries in mid-September. There are three versions on sale and they come with a seven-year, 80,000- mile warranty.
The MG4 EV starts at £25,995 for the fully stocked SE Standard Range, which has a 51kWh battery linked to a 125kW/170hp electric motor that propels it from rest to 62mph in 7.7 seconds, and up to a top speed of 100 mph, with a range of 218 miles.
The more powerful SE Long Range costing £28,495 has a bigger 64kWh battery linked to a 150kW/203hp electric motor and manages rest to 62mph in a slightly slower 7.8 seconds up to the same 100 mph top speed, but with a longer range of 270 miles.
I drove the top-of-the-range MG EV Trophy Long Range, priced from £31,495, which has the same performance figures as the SE Long Range but with extra kit, safety tech and bling including a black roof, privacy glass and twin aero rear spoiler. Charging takes about nine hours on a domestic charger but between 35 and 60 minutes on rapid chargers.
The rear-wheel-drive platform delivers 50:50 weigh t distribution, which translates to a solid driving experience.
The MG is like the Aldi or Lidl of the automobile world, which will be welcomed by cash-strapped families who want quality during a cost-of -living crisis
Once a legendary British car brand, MG is now owned by Shanghai-based SAIC, China’s biggest car-maker
A clever feature is a smart one-size fits all super slim integrated battery pack system which can be upgraded over the air or replaced completely if the owner wants more power or range
There are three versions on sale and they come with a seven-year, 80,000- mile warranty
The rear-wheel-drive platform delivers 50:50 weigh t distribution, which translates to a solid driving experience
Order books for the MG4 are open for first deliveries in mid-September
Once a legendary British car brand, MG is now owned by Shanghai-based SAIC, China’s biggest car-maker.
The new MG4 EV is the first of a series of MG models to be built using a new and advanced flexible platform that allows the creation of a diverse model styles – from hatchbacks to SUVs and sports cars.
A clever feature is a smart one-size fits all super slim integrated battery pack system which can be upgraded over the air or replaced completely if the owner wants more power or range.
With 150 UK dealerships and cars designed now in London’s Marylebone, but built in various locations abroad, the reborn MG boasts it is ‘the fastest growing car brand in the UK’ with a six-car range of ‘affordable’ hatchbacks, estates and SUVs.
The firm was originally founded in 1924 by Cecil Kimber at his Morris Garages in Abingdon near Oxford. Generations of Britons have enjoyed classic MG sports cars, including myself having for many years owned and driven – for work as well as pleasure – a much loved MG Midget.
Vauxhall celebrates 40th anniversary of Corsa
It’s certainly nippy. But will it blow your socks off? I’ve been helping Vauxhall celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Corsa supermini by driving a new special edition model — which comes with four pairs of tartan socks.
More than two million Corsas have been sold in the UK
The first Corsa, initially badged and sold as Nova in the UK, was unveiled in 1982. Now a fully electric Corsa-e Anniversary Edition limited to 1,000 vehicles is on sale priced at £31,000 and available only online.
Powered by a 136hp (100kW) electric motor linked to a 50kWh battery, it has a range of up to 222 miles.
The sports seats feature tartan upholstery similar to that in the 1980s Vauxhall Nova SR — hence the socks
Now a fully electric Corsa-e Anniversary Edition limited to 1,000 vehicles is on sale
It comes in a new ‘Record Red’ metallic finish along with 17-inch gloss black alloy wheels and black two-tone roof. The sports seats feature tartan upholstery similar to that in the 1980s Vauxhall Nova SR — hence the socks.
More than two million Corsas have been sold in the UK.
AA is advising drivers to check their cars after summer break
Farewell summer holidays; brace yourself for back to school.
The AA is advising drivers to check their cars now to help avoid a new term breakdown after weeks of inactivity in the summer.
Owners should check tyre pressures, tread, batteries and brakes, run the engine once a week; check oil, coolant and anti-freeze levels and top up where necessary.
Owners should check tyre pressures, tread, batteries and brakes, run the engine once a week; check oil, coolant and anti-freeze levels and top up where necessary
And watch out for small rodents nesting in the engine bay and causing damage to pipes or hoses.
AA president Edmund King, said: ‘We expect roads to be especially busy at drop-off and pick-up times, so plan ahead and allow extra time’.
- Claims data from the past eight years shows 68 per cent more accidents during the morning school run (8am to 9am), peaking in September, says Admiral Car Insurance.
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